Trial begins over death of woman shot by deputies in 2015

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A civil trial over the death of a woman who was shot by deputies in West Virginia has started, The Exponent Telegram report ed.

Christie Cathers, 45, was shot in June 2015 during a pursuit involving Monongalia County Sheriff’s deputies.

The deputies were responding to a report about someone brandishing a knife when Cathers attempted to flee, and later drove her vehicle toward a deputy and struck the sheriff’s cruiser, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies fired into the moving vehicle, killing her.

A grand jury did not bring charges against the two deputies involved in the shooting.

In January 2016, Gregory Farmerie, administrator of Cathers’ estate, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Monongalia County officials, including the then-sheriff, two deputies and the County Commission.

Representing Cathers’ estate, attorney Scott Segal said Cathers had a history of mental illness.

“It was a series of negligent acts out of poor training that ended Christie Cathers’ life,” Segal said.

Cy Hill, a lawyer for the sheriff’s office, disagreed.

“These officers did what they had to under dangerous, evolving and uncertain circumstances,” Hill said.

New deputies receive 10 weeks of training on how to deal with suspects with mental health issues, Hill said.